Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge: Teams to watch
Here's a look at five schools that have pledges in action at this weekend's second annual Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by Under Armour and that have big targets who may be influenced by those already committed.
Advertisement
Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge: Teams to Watch
The Five-Star Challenge is in Notre Dame's backyard, and the Irish will be well-represented with five commits in action. Running back Elijah HoodClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. and offensive tackle Quenton NelsonClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. are five-star recruits. Offensive tackle Alex BarsClick Notre DameHere to view this Link., offensive guard Sam MustipherClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. and wide receiver Justin BrentClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. are four-stars. The top four running backs in the 2014 class will be at the event, so Hood, No. 3 in the latest rankings at this position, will have an opportunity to move up even more. With five recruits at the Five-Star Challenge, that's a chance for these prospects to push for other players as well. QB Kyle AllenClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. had Notre Dame in his top five before he committed to Texas A&M on Monday. ND was a "surreal" offer for 2015 QB Jack BeneventiClick Notre DameHere to view this Link.. Others to watch include wide receivers Johnnie DixonClick Notre DameHere to view this Link., Josh MaloneClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. and Malachi DupreClick Notre DameHere to view this Link., along with five-star corner Adoree' JacksonClick Notre DameHere to view this Link., defensive tackle Thomas HolleyClick Notre DameHere to view this Link. and five-star running back Joe MixonClick Notre DameHere to view this Link..
The Crimson Tide will have a nice contingent of commits at the Five-Star Challenge with running back Bo ScarbroughClick AlabamaHere to view this Link. and linebackers Shaun Dion HamiltonClick AlabamaHere to view this Link. and Zach WhitleyClick AlabamaHere to view this Link. in Chicago. Alabama is after the nation's top-ranked player, defensive end Da'Shawn HandClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., so he will be a big target at the Five-Star Challenge. Five-star cornerback Marlon HumphreyClick AlabamaHere to view this Link. could be another major factor in this recruiting class, along with offensive tackle Damian PrinceClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., outside linebacker Dillon BatesClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., wide receiver Travis RudolphClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., 2015 safety Shawn Burgess-BeckerClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., defensive end Lorenzo CarterClick AlabamaHere to view this Link., defensive tackle Andrew BrownClick AlabamaHere to view this Link. and many others. It's not hard to sell Alabama football with its recent success, but that probably won't stop the committed kids from trying in Chicago.
The Tigers will have two commits at the Five-Star Challenge in linebacker Tre WilliamsClick AuburnHere to view this Link. and offensive center Joshua Casher, and there are plenty of targets to recruit during the weekend in Chicago. Topping that list has to be five-star quarterback Deshaun WatsonClick AuburnHere to view this Link., a Clemson commit who recently took a one-night trip to The Plains. Another Clemson pledge, Milan RichardClick AuburnHere to view this Link., will be there, so it will be interesting to see what transpires if the Auburn commits try to recruit Watson hard. If Watson doesn't show interest, there are plenty of other targets, including wide receivers Ermon LaneClick AuburnHere to view this Link., Josh MaloneClick AuburnHere to view this Link. and Speedy NoilClick AuburnHere to view this Link., who will be there. Prince and Isaiah WynnClick AuburnHere to view this Link. are OL prospects to watch, along with five-star linebacker Raekwon McMillanClick AuburnHere to view this Link. and 2015 standout Mitch HyattClick AuburnHere to view this Link.. Auburn is not giving up on Hand because he has visited even though he does not have the Tigers in his current top five.
Watson, like any top-rated quarterback, can play a huge role in recruiting at the Five-Star Challenge, especially if he hooks up with some of the best receivers at the event. Lane, Malone, Dupre, KD CannonClick ClemsonHere to view this Link., Artavis ScottClick ClemsonHere to view this Link., Saeed BlacknallClick ClemsonHere to view this Link., Jamil KamaraClick ClemsonHere to view this Link. and others will be working out, and if they have a connection with Watson during one-on-one drills or 7on7, that could be an important recruiting tool for the Tigers. A bunch of other targets, including five-star defensive end Kentavius StreetClick ClemsonHere to view this Link., McMillan and Holley, will be in Chicago, and if Watson and Richard can connect with a few prospects that could pay big dividends for Clemson's recruiting efforts.
The Tigers have only one 2014 commitment in attendance in four-star tight end Jacory WashingtonClick LSUHere to view this Link. but they have a special advantage by having a 2015 pledge, too. Cornerback Kevin Toliver IIClick LSUHere to view this Link. will be in Chicago as well. Having Toliver there to jell with running backs Nicholas BrossetteClick LSUHere to view this Link. and Jacques PatrickClick LSUHere to view this Link., fellow cornerback Kendall SheffieldClick LSUHere to view this Link. and Burgess-Becker and Rico McGrawClick LSUHere to view this Link. could really jump-start LSU's recruiting efforts in 2015. The Tigers have nine commitments in their 2014 class, but Washington and Toliver will surely be working on other guys. Top-rated running back Leonard FournetteClick LSUHere to view this Link. is priority No. 1. Lane, Dupre, Noil and Blacknall are targets at wide receiver. Carter, Hand and Malik McDowellClick LSUHere to view this Link. are names to watch. And don't forget about Jackson, the Gardena (Calif.) Serra standout who is originally from the Midwest and lists LSU as one of his favorites.
Click Here to view this Link.
[rl]